*Special Summer Hours:&nbsp; the library and museum are open until 8 p.m. the last Thursday of the month.

*Special Summer Hours:&nbsp; the library and museum are open until 8 p.m. the last Thursday of the month.

*Contact the library prior to visit. General admission provides access to all current exhibitions, public programs and the library area during Library hours.<br>

*Contact the library prior to visit. General admission provides access to all current exhibitions, public programs and the library area during Library hours.<br>

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'''Directions, maps, and public transportation:'''<ref name="S1" /> &nbsp; Public transportation is recommended due to limited parking.

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'''Directions, maps, and public transportation:'''<ref name="Direction"> [http://www.brooklynhistory.org/visitor/visitors.html#4 Directions] at Brooklyn Historical Society] (accessed 17 September 2012).</ref> &nbsp; Public transportation is recommended due to limited parking.

*'''Parking:''' There is limited on-street parking in the neighborhood as well as several garages: Manhattan Parking, 40 Clinton St., between Pierrepont and Cadman Plaza West; 300 Cadman Plaza West, between Clinton and Pierrepont; and Ultra on Montague between Clinton and Court.

*'''Parking:''' There is limited on-street parking in the neighborhood as well as several garages: Manhattan Parking, 40 Clinton St., between Pierrepont and Cadman Plaza West; 300 Cadman Plaza West, between Clinton and Pierrepont; and Ultra on Montague between Clinton and Court.

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*'''Bicycles:''' There are designated bike lanes along Clinton and Henry Streets leading to the Brooklyn Historical Society. Public bicycle racks may be found along Montague Street, one block from BHS. <br>

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*'''Bicycles:''' There are designated bike lanes along Clinton and Henry Streets leading to the Brooklyn Historical Society. Public bicycle racks may be found along Montague Street, one block from BHS. <br><br>

*[http://bobcat.library.nyu.edu/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=1&dstmp=1335477452142&vid=BHS&fromLogin=true/ Bobcat - online catalog.] Use this to search books, periodicals, and maps. Bobcat is found on a different website as it is a cooperative catalog hosted by NYU.

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''Collections''

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*[http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/ NYU Finding Aid Portal:] Use this to search for finding aids to processed archival, manuscript, oral history, and photographic collections. This is found on a different website as it is a cooperative catalog hosted by NYU.

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*[http://brooklynhistory.org/library/wp/ Emma:] Use this to search for archives, manuscripts, oral histories, photographs, library collections, and special collections.

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*Online

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*[http://brooklynhistory.pastperfect-online.com/35872cgi/mweb.exe?request=random/ Online Image Gallery:] Use this to search for individual photographs. A small number of our images are currently available online, but more images are added regularly.<br>

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**[http://bobcat.library.nyu.edu/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=1&dstmp=1335477452142&vid=BHS&fromLogin=true/ Bobcat - online catalog.] Use this to search books, periodicals, and maps. Bobcat is found on a different website as it is a cooperative catalog hosted by NYU. <ref name="S2">[http://www.brooklynhistory.org/library/search.html/ Search the Collections] in ''Brooklyn Historical Society'' (accessed 28 April 2012).</ref>

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**[http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/ NYU Finding Aid Portal:] Use this to search for finding aids to processed archival, manuscript, oral history, and photographic collections. This is found on a different website as it is a cooperative catalog hosted by NYU.<ref name="S2" />

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**[http://brooklynhistory.org/library/wp/ Emma:] Use this to search for archives, manuscripts, oral histories, photographs, library collections, and special collections.<ref name="S2" />

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**[http://brooklynhistory.pastperfect-online.com/35872cgi/mweb.exe?request=random/ Online Image Gallery:] Use this to search for individual photographs. A small number of our images are currently available online, but more images are added regularly.<ref name="S2" /> <br>

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*In the Library

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**Finding Aids: Browse a complete collection of our paper finding aids and collections guides to archives, manuscripts, oral histories, and photographs, many of which are not currently available online.<ref name="S2" />

**Oral History Database: Search and listen to audio recordings of oral history interviews.<ref name="S2" />

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=== Collection Description ===

=== Collection Description ===

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Collection Highlight

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The Brooklyn Historical Society's (BHS) mission is to discover, procure, and preserve whatever may relate to general history, especially the natural, civil, literary, and ecclesiastical history of the United States, the State of New York, and more particularly of the counties, towns, and villages of Long Island. The collection includes finding aids and collections guides to archives, manuscripts, oral histories, photographs, paintings, oral history database, and maps which document property ownership and street expansion in central and southern Brooklyn.<ref name="CollDesc">[http://brooklynhistory.org/library/about.html Collection Description] at Brooklyn Historical Society (accessed 10 September 2012).</ref>

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*[http://www.brooklynhistory.org/default/index.html Collection Highlight] BHS has a significant collection of Teunis G. Bergen's maps, which document property ownership and street expansion in central and southern Brooklyn. Recently, with help from the Gerry Charitable Trust, BHS conserved and cataloged a number of Bergen's manuscript maps.

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About the Othmer Library

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Founded in 1863 as the Long Island Historical Society, the Brooklyn Historical Society's (BHS) mission was to discover, procure, and preserve whatever may relate to general history, especially the natural, civil, literary, and ecclesiastical history of the United States, the State of New York, and more particularly of the counties, towns, and villages of Long Island.

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Through time the institution narrowed the focus of the scope of the collections and began to seek out materials specifically relating to Brooklyn and Long Island. Today, the Othmer Library is a nationally recognized research library comprised of special collections, archives and manuscripts, image and oral history collections. The library possesses a remarkable and unique collection of Brooklyn and Long Island materials that provides important insights into our nation's history and heritage.

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The Othmer Library serves the mission of the Brooklyn Historical Society by supporting research into the history of Brooklyn and Long Island and by collecting, preserving, and promoting access to our library and archival materials. The Library’s collections foster and enrich BHS' exhibits, education activities, and programming.

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=== Tips ===

=== Tips ===

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*Finding Aids, Image and Oral History databases can be used anytime the library is open, no appointment necessary.<br>

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*Finding Aids, Image and Oral History databases can be used anytime the library is open, no appointment necessary.<ref name="Aids"> [http://www.brooklynhistory.org/library/search.html Aids] at Brooklyn Historical Society] (accessed 17 September 2012).</ref><br>

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*New admission policy will be in effect throughout the duration of our renovation project, from July 2012 through August 2013.<br>

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*New admission policy will be in effect throughout the duration of our remodeling project, from July 2012 through August 2013.<ref name="Hours" /><br>

=== Guides ===

=== Guides ===

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*[http://www.brooklynhistory.org/library/genealogy_bhs.html Online Guide:] Detailed listing of resources which are most frequently consulted by genealogists and family historians. Finding Aids, Image and Oral History databases can be used anytime the library is open, no appointment necessary.<br>

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*[http://www.brooklynhistory.org/library/genealogy_bhs.html Online Guide:] Detailed listing of resources which are most frequently consulted by genealogists and family historians. Finding Aids, Image and Oral History databases can be used anytime the library is open, no appointment necessary.

If you cannot visit or find a source at the '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''', a similar source may be available at one of the following.

If you cannot visit or find a source at the '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''', a similar source may be available at one of the following.

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'''''Overlapping Collections'''''<br>

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'''''Overlapping Collections'''''<br>

*[[New York Public Library]] Genealogy Division has an outstanding collection of American history at national, state and local levels; international genealogy and heraldry in Roman alphabets; Dorot Jewish collection; photos; New York censuses, directories, and vital records.

*[[New York Public Library]] Genealogy Division has an outstanding collection of American history at national, state and local levels; international genealogy and heraldry in Roman alphabets; Dorot Jewish collection; photos; New York censuses, directories, and vital records.

*[http://www.nypl.org/locations New York Public Library Branches] over 90 in New York City.

*[http://www.nypl.org/locations New York Public Library Branches] over 90 in New York City.

*[[New England Historic Genealogical Society]], Boston, national in scope. Over 100 million name database, of vital records, genealogies, journals, over 200,000 books, 100,000 microfilms, and over 20 million manuscripts with emphasis on New England and New York since the 1600s.

*[[New England Historic Genealogical Society]], Boston, national in scope. Over 100 million name database, of vital records, genealogies, journals, over 200,000 books, 100,000 microfilms, and over 20 million manuscripts with emphasis on New England and New York since the 1600s.

From Manhattan: Take the Brooklyn Bridge to Cadman Plaza West ramp. Go straight ahead onto Middagh Street. Turn left onto Henry Street for six blocks. Turn left onto Pierrepont Street.

Parking: There is limited on-street parking in the neighborhood as well as several garages: Manhattan Parking, 40 Clinton St., between Pierrepont and Cadman Plaza West; 300 Cadman Plaza West, between Clinton and Pierrepont; and Ultra on Montague between Clinton and Court.

Bicycles: There are designated bike lanes along Clinton and Henry Streets leading to the Brooklyn Historical Society. Public bicycle racks may be found along Montague Street, one block from BHS.

Bobcat - online catalog. Use this to search books, periodicals, and maps. Bobcat is found on a different website as it is a cooperative catalog hosted by NYU.

NYU Finding Aid Portal: Use this to search for finding aids to processed archival, manuscript, oral history, and photographic collections. This is found on a different website as it is a cooperative catalog hosted by NYU.

Emma: Use this to search for archives, manuscripts, oral histories, photographs, library collections, and special collections.

Online Image Gallery: Use this to search for individual photographs. A small number of our images are currently available online, but more images are added regularly.

Collection Description

The Brooklyn Historical Society's (BHS) mission is to discover, procure, and preserve whatever may relate to general history, especially the natural, civil, literary, and ecclesiastical history of the United States, the State of New York, and more particularly of the counties, towns, and villages of Long Island. The collection includes finding aids and collections guides to archives, manuscripts, oral histories, photographs, paintings, oral history database, and maps which document property ownership and street expansion in central and southern Brooklyn.[4]

Tips

Finding Aids, Image and Oral History databases can be used anytime the library is open, no appointment necessary.[5]

New admission policy will be in effect throughout the duration of our remodeling project, from July 2012 through August 2013.[2]

Guides

Online Guide: Detailed listing of resources which are most frequently consulted by genealogists and family historians. Finding Aids, Image and Oral History databases can be used anytime the library is open, no appointment necessary.

Alternate Repositories

If you cannot visit or find a source at the Brooklyn Historical Society, a similar source may be available at one of the following.

Overlapping Collections

New York Public Library Genealogy Division has an outstanding collection of American history at national, state and local levels; international genealogy and heraldry in Roman alphabets; Dorot Jewish collection; photos; New York censuses, directories, and vital records.

New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, national in scope. Over 100 million name database, of vital records, genealogies, journals, over 200,000 books, 100,000 microfilms, and over 20 million manuscripts with emphasis on New England and New York since the 1600s.

National Archives at New York City, censuses, Ancestry.com, military, pensions, bounty land, photos, passenger indexes, New York port and shipping, naturalizations, inventions.